Chinese fighter deployed flares within 30m of RAAF jet in South China Sea

A Chinese jet fighter has released flares in front of an Australian military plane during what Defence describes as an “unsafe and unprofessional” interaction in the South China Sea this week. Officials have revealed the encounter occurred on Tuesday during daylight hours, with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) J-16 released within 30 metres of the RAAF P-8 Poseidon. Defence says no personnel were injured and there was no damage to the P-8, but it has lodged formal objections with the PLA both in Canberra and Beijing. “The Australian government has expressed its concerns to the Chinese government following an unsafe…